Clinford Joseph – who now has 276 offences to his name – admitted breaching his Asbo again by drinking alcohol in public.

His own solicitor admitted he was at a loss as to how the 31-year-old could be effectively punished.

Prosecutor Andy Wills said that Joseph, of Lonsbrough Flats in Southgate, was seen on Cross Church Street by police on July 24. He went into an off-licence and returned moments later with a can of beer in his hand, from which he then drank.

Kirklees magistrates heard that this put Joseph in breach of an anti-social behaviour order made by the Huddersfield court earlier this year.

Kirklees Council applied for the three-year order, which includes a ban on Joseph drinking from an open container of alcohol in the town.

Mr Wills said that when Joseph saw police he tried to hide the can under his jumper before being placed under arrest.

Joseph was last in court on July 30 when he pleaded guilty to flouting the order by holding a can of lager in Byram Court.

It was the latest in a long line of court appearances, which this year have included prosecutions for drunkenly urinating in public and assaulting a pub manager for which he was jailed.

Neil Murphy, for Joseph, said: “Police spend a large amount of time engaged in arresting Mr Joseph for offences linked to his chronic alcoholism. I am really at a loss as to making any constructive suggestions as to how to sentence him.”

Magistrates gave Joseph an eight-week curfew as a direct alternative to custody and told him to pay £60 victim surcharge.